Medicos go on strike over hike in quota

Students of five leading medical colleges in the Capital on Wednesday decided to go on a strike in protest against reservation of seats in elite educational institutions. The decision was taken after over 150 protesting students clashed with the police.

Students of five leading medical colleges in the Capital on Wednesday decided to go on a strike in protest against reservation of seats in elite educational institutions.

"At the moment, it is an all out strike by students of AIIMS, Safdarjung, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital," Amitasha Sinha, a medical student leader and spokesman for 'Youth for Equality' group said.

The decision was taken after over 150 protesting students clashed with the police near HRD Minister Arjun Singh’s residence. The police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters who were trying to march to the minister’s house.

Sinha said the medicos would continue their stir until they are allowed to meet the minister. She said her colleagues would also meet resident doctors to get support for the strike call.

"Let us see if doctors also join us," Sinha, a student of Lady Hardinge Medical College said. Students said the standards of healthcare would fall if quota in elite institutions was increased from 22.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent.